Turkey will find it "comforting" if the EU says it cannot be accepted as a member, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told the BBC. Speaking to HARDtalk's Zeinab Badawi, he said Turkey was "able to stand on its own two feet". He also denied the country had jailed 150 journalists, saying only two people with press cards were in prison. Meanwhile, Turkey extended the detention of the local director of Amnesty International and nine others. Idil Eser was detained on 5 July during a digital security and information management workshop, along with seven other rights activists and two foreign trainers. The 10 are accused of being members of an "armed terrorist organisation" - although Amnesty says it is unclear which one. Their detention has raised alarm internationally, increasing fears that freedom of expression is being suppressed under President Erdogan.

Taipei, Feb. 11 (CNA) Taiwan will use Mexico and Turkey as gateways to stepping up trade with the United States and the European Union, so as to reduce the impact of the free trade agreements (FTAs) between South Korea and the two major economies, according to the country's main trade promotion body. The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) said in a recent document that it will not only set up business centers in Mexico City and Istanbul, but also hold seminars and lead delegations to the two markets to further trade ties.